ASPIDIUM FILIX MAS. 
95 
Medical Properties and Uses. The root of fern has 
been long celebrated for its vermifuge properties. Dioscorides, ' 
Galen and Pliny appear to have been well acquainted with it ;* by 
later writers, as Hoffmann and others, it was much recommended, but 
had fallen into disuse till revived by Madame Noufer, a surgeon's 
widow in Switzerland, who acquired great celebrity for the cure of 
tape worm, by a secret remedy. This remedy was thought of so 
much importance by the principal physicians in Paris, that the secret 
was purchased by the French king, and published by his order. 
The following, we are told, is the method of cure which was adopted 
by Madame Noufer and her followers : the patient is prepared by the 
exhibition of a glyster, and a supper of panada, with butter and salt; 
the following morning, he is directed to take from two to three 
drachms of the root of the male fern in powder, this is washed down 
with a draught of water, and two hours after, a strong cathartic, 
composed of calomel and scammony (proportioned to the strength 
of the patient) i^ to be given; if this dose do not operate after a. 
proper time, a dose of purgative salts is to be taken ; and if the 
worm be not expelled in a few hours, the process is to be repeated at 
proper intervals. It has been thought, that the success of this mode 
of treatment is to be attributed more to the agency of the cathartics 
than the fern ; however, from experiments made on the continent, 
it appears, that in several instances the worm has been expelled 
after repeated doses of the root, without the assistance of any 
cathartic. 
In this country, we believe the male fern root has not been pre- 
scribed with much success ; but we think is worthy of further trials. 
The solid part of the root only should be powdered, and given in 
doses regulated by the constitution and age of the patient. 
Off. The Root. 
* Vide Pliny, lib. xxviii. cap. 9. Galen de Simp. Med. lib. viii. Dioscorides M. M. 
lib. ir, cap. 186. 
